PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Sai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kioshi Kemauchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sai
vs
Kemauchi

165 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

170 cm
20
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Sai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kioshi Kemauchi!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sai has managed to clinch.
Sai is pushing Kemauchi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Sai fails to pull guard.
Kemauchi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sai prevents Kemauchi from breaking the clinch.
Kemauchi misses with a hook to the ribs.

Sai breaks from the clinch.
Sai shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kemauchi sprawls well. Kemauchi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sai gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kemauchi throws a right hand that Sai ducks under and follows up with a left that Sai also avoids with ease.
Kemauchi is looking to chop away at Sai's legs.
Kemauchi swinging wildly here.
It looked like Sai was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kemauchi.
Kemauchi throws a series of punches but Sai moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sai fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Sai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kemauchi scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kemauchi misses with a series of wild punches.
Sai avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kemauchi.
Sai closes the distance and clinches up with Kemauchi, looking for a takedown. Sai pushes Kemauchi against the cage but Kemauchi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Kemauchi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kemauchi swings wildly with an uppercut but Sai uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kemauchi blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kemauchi is trying to push Sai away but Sai has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sai prevents Kemauchi from breaking the clinch.
Sai can't find room to land a body shot as Kemauchi controls the action.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Sai.
Kemauchi taking a breather.
Still in the clinch, Kemauchi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sai tries to pull guard but Kemauchi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sai tries to pull guard but Kemauchi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sai is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Sai on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kemauchi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Kemauchi breaks from the clinch.
Kemauchi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sai is out of range.
Kioshi Kemauchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sai has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sai tries to clinch but Kemauchi is having none of it.
Kemauchi blocks a head kick by Sai.
The fighters circling - Kemauchi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kemauchi throws a hook to the side of Sai's head but Sai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sai throws a big counter combination but Kemauchi scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Kemauchi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sai closes the distance and clinches up with Kemauchi, looking for a takedown. Sai pushes Kemauchi against the cage but Kemauchi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kemauchi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Sai. Sai circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sai throws a head kick but Kemauchi moves out of range.
Kemauchi misses with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Kemauchi. No joy for Sai on that attempt.
Kemauchi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kemauchi swats away the attempt to clinch by Sai.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kemauchi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sai looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sai avoids the body shot from Kemauchi.
It looked like Sai was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kemauchi.
Sai changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kemauchi tries to avoid it but Sai manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kemauchi to the ground. Kemauchi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kemauchi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kemauchi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sai.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kemauchi scores with a jab. Sai acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kemauchi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kemauchi lands a glancing blow to the side of Sai's head.
Sai throws a body punch but Kemauchi moves out of range.
Kemauchi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kemauchi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kemauchi slips under a jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kioshi Kemauchi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joe Sai's cut.
That's time! Sai's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Kemauchi in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Kemauchi working hard to break the clinch.

Sai breaks the clinch.
Sai slips under a jab.
Sai ducks under a wild hook from Kemauchi.
Sai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kemauchi.
Jab from Kemauchi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sai goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kioshi Kemauchi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kemauchi avoids the head kick by Sai.
Kemauchi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sloppy strikes from Sai. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kemauchi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sai blocks a head kick by Kemauchi.
Kemauchi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sai at a distance.
Kemauchi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kemauchi tries to land a leg kick but Sai saw it coming and moves away.
Kemauchi swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Sai counters by moving into the clinch.
Sai drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kemauchi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kemauchi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sai manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kemauchi tries to clinch up but Sai circles away and keeps his distance.
Kemauchi defending well as Sai loads up on a big left hand.
Kemauchi looks to land a right hand but Sai moved out of range.
Joe Sai is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kemauchi throws a series of punches but Sai moves out of range.
It looked like Sai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kemauchi scores with the left hand. Sai knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sai blocks a head kick by Kemauchi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kemauchi lands a head shot.
Kemauchi takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Sai closes the distance and clinches up with Kemauchi, looking for a takedown. Sai pushes Kemauchi against the cage but Kemauchi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sai moves forwards but Kemauchi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sai swats away the attempt to clinch by Kemauchi.
Kemauchi throws a leg kick but Sai moved away.
Sai looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sai circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kemauchi takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kemauchi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sai swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kemauchi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sai.
Kemauchi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sai manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sai tries to clinch but Kemauchi moves out of range.
Kemauchi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sai moves away from the strike by Kemauchi.

Sai moves into the clinch.
Sai avoiding damage.
Sai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kemauchi's elbow.
Kemauchi tries to break free but Sai pushes him back against the cage.
Sai blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sai drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kemauchi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Sai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kemauchi tries to circle away but Sai has him pinned against the cage.

Sai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sai looks to throw the jab but Kemauchi is out of range.
Kemauchi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sai staying out of range there.
Sai fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kemauchi misses the shot to the body.
Sai misses with a hook.
Nice uppercut there from Kemauchi.

Kemauchi gets tackled into the cage by Sai. Sai maintains the clinch.
Kemauchi wants to break free but Sai has control.
Sai fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Sai escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kioshi Kemauchi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joe Sai's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kemauchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sai circles away quickly and effectively.
Kemauchi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kemauchi tries to close the distance and clinch but Sai swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sai is defended easily by Kemauchi.
Kemauchi unleashes a big counter combination but Sai bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Kemauchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sai circles away quickly and effectively.
Kemauchi scores with a hook to the body. Sai takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kemauchi looks to score with a jab to the body but Sai is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sai clinches.

Sai gets control of Kemauchi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sai will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kemauchi is stalling in the full guard.
Sai wants to control but Kemauchi passes easily into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kemauchi working Sai over with strikes.
Kemauchi passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kemauchi looking to control but Sai is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kemauchi controlling from mount.
Sai is squirming around, avoiding Kemauchi's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kemauchi lands a couple of good shots and Sai has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Sai is trying to defend against the choke here but Kemauchi has an arm under his chin. This one might not last much longer. Kemauchi Tightens the hold and Sai taps out furiously! Kemauchi displays superior BJJ to win the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kioshi Kemauchi!
An out of breath Kioshi Kemauchi thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.